One Pager Cheat Sheet

• Breaking into the software industry can be challenging, especially for those without professional experience, but there are tips that can help get the right start.
• "You do not need to be a software engineer to join the software industry; in fact, there are many unrelated but transferable skills that can be used to break into the industry."
• Getting your first tech job can be difficult and discouraging, but with hustle and determination, a bit of "leveling up" can be achieved quickly and the job search journey will become much easier.
• Taking alternative routes to gaining experience through internships, such as applying to remote internships or applying directly to companies, can help you build your resume even if you're not in university.
• You can learn maintainable patterns and good habits from your own projects, while also potentially gaining valuable, resume-worthy experience that can even result in job opportunities.
• You can start consulting and doing contract work in order to land a full-time job, temp-to-perm role, or even make an entire career out of it by demonstrating a return on investment with a portfolio of the stuff you created.
• Contribute to Open Source Software to build collaboration skills and potentially get hired by a firm, as exemplified by Dan Abramov's experience with Redux.
• Networking and joining industry conferences/meetups are essential for new technologists to make themselves known and showcase their work in order to be successful.
• Pay attention to your past experience, as it can be an advantage when applying for software engineering roles in industries that align with your interests and background.
• It could take anywhere from one to six months to land something, but it may take a year to get comfortable and up to five years to deeply understand software and make important technical decisions.
• Always Be Learning the fundamentals, as understanding the core principles of software technology will prove more beneficial for future job prospects than just mastering the latest trends.